---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 5009"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "5009"
heading: "Unlawful activities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/5009"
units:
  - "Chapter 70 — North Pacific Anadromous Stocks Convention"
---

# §5009. Unlawful activities


It is unlawful for any [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) or [fishing vessel](/usc/16/5002.md?p=13) subject to the jurisdiction of the United States—

- (1) to [fish](/usc/16/5002.md?p=11) for any [anadromous fish](/usc/16/5002.md?p=2) in the [Convention area](/usc/16/5002.md?p=6);
- (2) to retain on board any [anadromous fish](/usc/16/5002.md?p=2) taken incidentally in a fishery directed at nonanadromous fish in the [Convention area](/usc/16/5002.md?p=6);
- (3) to fail to return immediately to the sea any [anadromous fish](/usc/16/5002.md?p=2) taken incidentally in a fishery directed at nonanadromous fish in the [Convention area](/usc/16/5002.md?p=6);
- (4) to ship, transport, offer for sale, sell, purchase, import, export, or have custody, control, or possession of, any [anadromous fish](/usc/16/5002.md?p=2) taken or retained in [violation](/usc/16/620e.md?p=11) of the [Convention](/usc/16/5002.md?p=5), this chapter, or any regulation issued under this chapter;
- (5) to refuse to permit any [enforcement officer](/usc/16/5002.md?p=9) to board a [fishing vessel](/usc/16/5002.md?p=13) subject to such [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b)’s control for purposes of conducting any search, investigation, or inspection in connection with the enforcement of the [Convention](/usc/16/5002.md?p=5), this chapter, or any regulation issued under this chapter;
- (6) to forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, or interfere with any [enforcement officer](/usc/16/5002.md?p=9) in the conduct of any search, investigation, or inspection described in [paragraph (5)](#5);
- (7) to resist a lawful arrest or detection for any act prohibited by this section;
- (8) to interfere with, delay, or prevent, by any means, the apprehension, arrest, or detection of another [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b), knowing that such [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) has committed any act prohibited by this section; or
- (9) to violate any provision of the [Convention](/usc/16/5002.md?p=5), this chapter, or any regulation issued under this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–567, title VIII, § 810, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4313; Pub. L. 102–587, title VIII, § 8010, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5103; Pub. L. 106–562, title III, § 304(a), Dec. 23, 2000, 114 Stat. 2806; Pub. L. 114–81, title I, § 103(a), Nov. 5, 2015, 129 Stat. 657.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Title VIII of Pub. L. 102–567 and Pub. L. 102–587 enacted substantially identical sections. Title VIII of Pub. L. 102–587 was repealed by Pub. L. 106–562.

### Amendments

2015—Pars. (5), (6). Pub. L. 114–81 inserted “, investigation,” after “search”.